Spain lays keel for open-sea floating solar in Valencia waters

• San Enrique shipyard in Vigo has begun building BlueNewables’ first 0.5-MW open-sea floating solar platform, part of a 1-MW project to power the Port of Valencia from 2026.

Spain has taken a step toward large-scale marine photovoltaics with the keel laying of a 0.5-MW open-sea floating solar platform at the San Enrique shipyard in Vigo. The unit is the first of two platforms ordered by Spanish marine-renewables specialist BlueNewables for deployment off Valencia, where the combined 1-MW array will supply the port’s electricity needs.

The steel structure measures roughly 64 by 41 metres and will carry 600 solar panels along with space for inverters and transformers. BlueNewables says its PV-bos (PhotoVoltaic-BlueNewables Offshore Solutions) design is optimized for quick manufacturing, easier maintenance and higher output in open-sea conditions—crucial differences from sheltered-water floating PV seen on lakes and reservoirs.

According to the shipyard operator Marina Meridional, each platform is expected to generate about 1,500 MWh of electricity annually—enough to cover the consumption of roughly 500 homes—and avoid up to 620 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Installation and testing in Valencia’s Mediterranean waters are scheduled for 2026. If delivered as planned, the project would rank among the largest open-sea solar installations globally and a notable European first for marine PV at this scale.

While floating PV is maturing rapidly on inland waters, operating at sea introduces tougher engineering requirements—from wave loading and corrosion to moorings and cable protection. BlueNewables’ concept aims to offer ports and coastal industries a lower-impact alternative or complement to offshore wind in areas where wind permitting, water depth or grid constraints favor modular solar platforms. The build at San Enrique also underscores the growing role of Spain’s shipyards in renewable-energy supply chains beyond traditional ship repair and fabrication.